Veteran Ghanaian actor Majid Michel has criticised comparisons between Ghana’s movie industry and Nigeria’s Nollywood, describing such comparisons as unfair because of the significant difference in population size between the two countries.
Speaking in a recent interview with Y1079 FM Accra, the popular Ghanaian actor argued that Nigeria’s much larger population gives it a greater pool of actors, filmmakers and other creative professionals, making direct comparisons between the two film industries misleading.
Michel described the comparison as “stupid,” insisting that the size of a country’s population must be considered when assessing its achievements in filmmaking and entertainment.
Majid Michel Explains Why Nollywood Has an Advantage
According to Majid Michel, Nigeria’s population of more than 200 million people, compared with Ghana’s population of fewer than 40 million, provides a broader talent pool for the country’s entertainment industry.
He explained that a country with a significantly larger population is naturally more likely to produce higher numbers of professionals across different sectors, including medicine, filmmaking and other creative fields.
The actor used an example of two families with different numbers of children to illustrate his argument, noting that a family with 50 children would statistically have a greater chance of producing more doctors, filmmakers and other professionals than a family with only five children.
Michel maintained that Nigeria’s larger population makes it reasonable for Nollywood to have more actors and filmmakers than Ghana’s movie industry.
He questioned why Ghanaian filmmakers should be expected to compete with Nigeria on equal numerical terms without considering the differences in population and the size of their respective markets.
Ghana Movie Industry and Nollywood Comparison Sparks Debate
The actor’s comments have drawn attention to the longstanding discussion about the differences between Ghana’s film industry and Nigeria’s Nollywood.
Nollywood has established a significant presence in African entertainment, with a large domestic audience and a substantial pool of actors, producers, directors and other industry professionals.
Ghana also has a longstanding filmmaking tradition, with actors and filmmakers contributing to local cinema and the wider African entertainment industry.
Michel’s argument is that population size should be considered when comparing the output of the two industries, rather than judging Ghana solely by the volume of films or the number of professionals produced by Nigeria.
His remarks highlight the importance of considering market size and available talent when evaluating the performance of African film industries.
Majid Michel Says Ghana Should Avoid Unfair Comparisons
Beyond the movie industry, Michel argued that Ghana should also be cautious about comparing its overall development with that of countries that have had much longer periods to establish their political and administrative systems.
He suggested that some countries have spent centuries developing their institutions and leadership structures, while Ghana has had a comparatively shorter period to build similar systems.
According to the actor, these historical differences make direct comparisons unfair unless the circumstances and stages of development of the countries involved are taken into account.
His comments suggest that Ghana’s progress should be assessed within its own historical and economic context rather than solely against the achievements of more established nations.
Majid Michel’s Comments Renew Focus on Ghana’s Film Industry
Majid Michel’s remarks have renewed attention on the challenges and opportunities facing Ghana’s movie industry as it competes for audiences and recognition across Africa.
His position is that Nigeria’s population advantage partly explains the scale of Nollywood and that Ghana’s film industry should not be judged by the same numerical standards without considering the differences between the two countries.
The discussion also raises broader questions about investment, talent development, film production and the expansion of audiences for Ghanaian movies.
Michel’s comments reinforce his view that fair comparisons should account for population, resources and institutional development when assessing the achievements of Ghana’s entertainment industry against those of Nigeria and other countries.
Source: newsthemegh.com